In recent years, the spread of generative AI has led to the focus on hyperscale data centers that can process massive amounts of data at high speed.
In this column we will introduce the role our connectors play in hyperscale data centers.
What Is a Hyperscale Data Center?
Hyperscale data centers are data centers equipped with tens to hundreds of thousands of servers, enabling large-scale data processing. They are operated by companies that require massive data processing and storage, and are also used for data processing for AI and machine learning.
Compared to general data centers that support corporate IT infrastructure, hyperscale data centers are orders of magnitude larger and have a much larger processing capacity. As data increases, faster and larger capacity communication infrastructure is required, and the performance of connectors is also becoming more important.
In recent years, with the increase in traffic inside data centers, the importance of technology to transmit large amounts of data at high speed has increased. In particular, with the spread of generative AI, which requires large-scale computational processing, the demand for higher bandwidth and low latency high-speed communication continues to increase in high-speed networks for AI inside hyperscale data centers, and as a result, high-speed communication connectors are also required to have high capacity and stable transmission performance.
Our Products Contribute to the Development of High-Speed Communications
In response to the increasing data transmission capacity in the data center market, in December 2024, we began selling the CN176 series and CN214 series optical communication module interface connectors that also support 1.6 Tbps Ethernet.
The CN176 series is an interface connector for optical communication modules that supports 1.6 Tbps Ethernet and complies with the OSFP*1 standard, while the CN214 series is an interface connector for optical communication modules that supports 1.6 Tbps Ethernet and complies with the OSFP-XD*2 standard. Both are compatible with systems that make up AI/ML clusters*3 in addition to use in conventional data centers, and are used for connection applications in hyperscale data centers that require high bandwidth and low latency performance.
By using our connectors in systems within hyperscale data centers, stable high-speed processing is possible. This contributes to the creation of a high-speed communication environment that is ideal for big data analysis, which is necessary to improve the accuracy and predictive capabilities of AI.
We also believe that we can contribute to the creation of a stable high-speed communication environment in the field of AI applications that require real-time responses, including autonomous driving.
Through the development of connectors that meet the diverse needs of society, we will continue to contribute to the realization of a faster and more stable communications environment.
*1 OSFP: OCTAL SMALL FORM FACTOR PLUGGABLE MODULE
*2 OSFP-XD: OCTAL SMALL FORM FACTOR PLUGGABLE eXtra-Dense MODULE
*3 AI/ML cluster: a collection of hardware and software for efficient research and development into artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), or for efficient data processing
1.6Tbps Ethernet compatible optical communication module interface connectors
CN176 Series (left), CN214 Series (right)
